The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-10-23


against Lisha for heayin' me onto the town,
amt thsy' Mis- Iiakimlr
Old Israel Holiday leaned over the stone wall
of the poor farm, Drowned aud weather beaten
figure. his back bowed by years and burdens,
but his blue eyes pathetically childish and hope
full
The poor-farm a pleasant place on this
mellow September morning; great, square.
hospitable house. silvered and messed by time.
with background of following maple leaves,
and, beyond those, deep blue misty hills melt
ing into the tender. pale blue of the sky; and
along the wall golden rod and asters had flung
banner Of the royal colors that might have
graced q palace
But to the thrifty New England soul OF Mis-
Liakim Saunders there degradation in the
very atmosphere.
She was little. anxious. energetic woman,
with very black eyes. and long neck on which
time seemed to have recorded his triumphs in
hieroglyphics, while he had left her small, apple
like cheeks quite smooth Her hair, combed off
her high forehead in a widows peak" was still
black, but il was rusty like her black dress, and
vaguely conveyed the Fame impression Of pre-
eenting N respectable appearance only by dint of
O struggle.
tits burnin' shame" she said. but in a tone
which detracted somewhat from the force of the
words 'Some lays the blame to Adeline.
but think mans responsible for his actions,
let his wife be what she will. Reminds me of
our first parents. But you hadn't ought to have
signed off to Lisha, Capn Holiday"
'Lisha's well meanin'" said the old man
hastily. Hes real well meanin', Lisha is. but
he want never one that could get ahead, and
now with all that Acknowledgements well
xneanin', TOO. but the neuraley has few to her
disposition; they say it's apt to, and be hearty.
She said I'd ate up more'n the valoo Of what
give em; and maybe had, and she didn't like to
see settin' round readn' stories. She thought
I'd been better off il hadn't read 50 many
when was young. II came hard leavin' the
old place / lotted layin' my bones there
alongside OF Marthy, but she's been and had the
graveyard all tore up cause it made
her lonesome" The old mans knotted
hands trembled he H. wiped his
forehead. "But it'll be different when get
Ben homer he added. Frightening. 'Tt seemed,
fust off, as IL couldn't bear to have him find
me in the or-house, but Ben amt one to blame
and despise folks. Seems as if twas mostly
women folks that lays MP and keeps talkin, I
hadn't ought to "a signed off to Lsha, I spose,
but want At to take Of myself; I'd been
through such n terrible sight There amt mo-
body in Bloomfield that seems to realize or be-
lievs what I'D been through when I come
home"
Eyes, yes know" said Mia Liakim, sooth-
inely.
The old man, who sometimes lust like
other folks" his neighbors said was now wan
dering off into that queer delusion which had
possessed him since he fell from the mast
OF his own vessel, the Martha Jane. striking
upon his head. and being taken MP for dead.
His brother 'Lisha's wife. Adeline, said the nom
e. Ii
stories. For her part she wondered chow folks
with their heads chuck full of lies could ever
tell who they were or whore they belonged"
Poor Cap'n Isr'el thought himself the deposed
and banished king of some savage islands in
the Pacific ocean, of which he claimed the dis
covery, and whose location he described with
great exactness TO whomsoever would listen,
most often to assemblago OF jeerine boys in
the village store. with whom he was patheti-
cally gentle and patient. The thrilling feature
of Cap'n Isrers experience was the fact that Ben,
his boy Ben, was held prisoner by the savages
Ia the hope of a ransom; and that ransom it was
the great business of the old mans life to
Bits OF colored glass; pennies, il they
bright ones buttons and beads, old Jews
harp, and q broken harmonics composed his
collections. Mischisvous boys brought addi-
tions continually, and the ransom might have
been expected TO reach unlimited proportions,
but there was a mysterious law OF selection
and rejection, and Capn Isr'el spent almost all
his waking hours seeking seeking.
Folks don't understand, but j know them
savages," he would say.
Mis- 'Liakim had answered gently when he
spoke of his experiences, but she Immediately
added. briskly:.
81 guess I'd better be going along for Lecty's
trimnin' old Mis- Fowlers bonnet and therell
be dinner to get"
'"rhat's the way with 'em all; want to get
away as soon MS begin to tell them about the
Gurus things that happened to me!' said tie old
man, dejeetedly. You'd think they'd feel an |
interest, seein' Robson Crusoe want nothin' to
IL. and SEEM Ben's there yet, in the power Of
them savage creaturs; folks used to think sight
OF Ben and him and your Lecty-"
Mis- Liakim compressed her thin lips tightly; |
the girls in her Sunday school class said that |
when Mis- Tiakim didn't like anything she |
s.pucksred." 4
THAT makes me think of what Lecty gave |
me yesterday; you hant seen what I've got for |
q long spell, have youf I declare I'm lookn' |
for q chance to send it, now. Them savages II |
be tickled to death; no fear but they'll give Ben |
mp for that lot Of fol-de-rols! And Lectys blue
beads are the gem OF the whole! For Ben's
sake she says. when she give EN- to me, ana
Mis- Liakim puckered again. more rigidly i
than before. while Capn Isrel shuffied feebly off
In quest OF his treasure
Iecty's blue Venetian beads that her seafar-
ing uncle had brought home TO her when she was
y little girl, and which she had treasured too
carefully to wear except upon gala days. Could
ybe have been silly TO sacrifice those to the
within of a crazy old mani
'tShe's clear Saunders" said Mis- Liakim,
puckering at a robin who dscoursed liquid plant
iveness from maple bough.
Capn Isr'ei came back bringing his collection,
with the pleased eagerness of a child in his face
Here be j. towns poor said he, ''but / don't
suppose Queen Victoria her throne has got
anything OF much real valoo these to
me-"
I'VE ought to lay up our treasures in heaven
where neither moth rust do corrupt thieves